6 works.
Archie
Perfect. Looking forward to it.
I set my phone down but couldn’t stop the warmth spreading through my chest.
Sam watched me with the expression of someone observing a scientific experiment.
“Show me. I’m dying of curiosity here.” He reached for my phone, and I pulled it away.
“It’s just confirming plans.”
“Let me see the texts.”
“No.”
“Gianna—”
I handed over my phone with a sigh. He read through the exchange and his eyebrows went up.
“He’s picking you up? At your apartment?”
“That’s what people do on dates.”
“No, most guys our age suggest meeting somewhere because commitment is terrifying and picking someone up feels too relationship-y.” He handed back my phone. “Terrace Guy gives off traditional-man vibes. I’m into it.”
“You’re into everything lately. The puppy thing is making you soft.”
“I’m not soft. I've evolved.” He leaned back and studied me. “So. Scale of one to ten, how into him are you?”
“I don’t know. We’ve had coffee once. This is just a second date.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I took a bite of pancakes to buy myself time.
“I’m attracted to him,” I said finally. “Obviously. He’s attractive.”
“Understatement. Terrace Guy is hot. Like unfairly hot. I see why you couldn’t forget him.”
“It’s not just that.”
“Then what is it?”
I tried to find the right words. “When he looks at me, I feel seen. Not like he’s looking at Law-Student Gianna or any version of me that makes sense. Just… me. And it’s terrifying and addictive at the same time.”
Sam set down his fork. “Gianna.”
“What?”
“You sound like someone who’s already head over heels.”
I threw a napkin at him. “I am not heads over heels. I barely know him.”
“You’re twisting your ring. You only do that when you’re nervous about something that is important.”
I looked down. He was right. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it.
